Kamala Harris pushes new bill to decriminalize marijuana nationwide

https://www.msn.com/en-us/news/polit...FNM?li=BBnb7Kz
Presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris is teaming up with House Judiciary Chair Jerry Nadler, D-N.Y., on a comprehensive marijuana reform bill that would decriminalize marijuana at the federal level, expunge prior marijuana-based convictions and fight against discrimination for those who possess or use it.
© Justin Sullivan/Getty Images Democratic presidential candidate U.S. Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks during the AARP and The Des Moines Register Iowa Presidential Candidate Forum on Tuesday, July 16, 2019 in Bettendorf, Iowa. "Times have changed -- marijuana should not be a crime," said Harris, D-Calif. "We need to start regulating marijuana, and expunge marijuana convictions from the records of millions of Americans so they can get on with their lives."

The Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act announced Tuesday morning would remove marijuana from the Controlled Substances Act, thereby decriminalizing marijuana for previous and pending convictions. States could then set their own marijuana policies, similar to what's currently in place for alcohol.
The bill would also require resentencing for prior marijuana-based convictions.
The policy is a 180-degree turn from Harris' past positions on marijuana. When Harris was California's attorney general from 2011 to 2017, tens of thousands of Californians were arrested yearly for marijuana infractions, according to a 2016 Drug Policy Alliance report.
For months, she's also expressed being in favor of legalizing marijuana: a position she laughed at just five years ago when asked about it during a local TV interview in Sacramento, California.
While she's yet to propose legalizing marijuana, she said in an interview with "The Breakfast Club" in February she would do so as president.
"There are a lot of reasons why we need to legalize," Harris started saying, before being asked if she had ever smoked weed herself.
"Yes," she said. "It was a long time ago."
"Listen, I think it gives a lot of people joy, and we need more joy," she added, to laughs.
© Charlie Neibergall/AP Democratic presidential candidate Sen. Kamala Harris, D-Calif., speaks during a Women of Color roundtable discussion, July 16, 2019, in Davenport, Iowa. Harris and Nadler's bill would also put in place discrimination protections, including prohibiting landlords from denying federal housing related to tenant marijuana use or possession, and prevent immigration authorities from being able to use marijuana possession/use to target people.
The bill would also authorize Congress to use half of the yearly tax revenue from the marijuana industry to reinvest in communities impacted by the war on drugs, small businesses in the marijuana industry controlled by low-income individuals and make marijuana licensing easier for those negatively affected by marijuana criminalization.

"As marijuana becomes legal across the country, we must make sure everyone -- especially communities of color that have been disproportionately impacted by the war on drugs -- has a real opportunity to participate in this growing industry," Harris said.
With Nadler on her side, a Harris aide said the bill is expected to be taken up for a vote.



The first sensible thing I have heard from her, and the first time she has "taken a stand" on a political matter, IMHO.

I agree - our "War on Drugs" is an abysmal failure, and incarceration is not an answer to drug addiction. Decriminalize and treat addicts - don't jail them. Pushers and cartels - that is different.

Marijuana is a safer drug medically than either alcohol or tobacco by a long shot.

I agree with Harris on this issue - but she is still a DPST nut case.

Conservatives should adopt good ideas when they occur (rarely) from the DPST's

Welfare state and pot legalization don't mix...

Not exactly a courageous stand at this stage.
Nationwide decrim of nookie rental would be a bit braver.

Welfare state and pot legalization don't mix... Originally Posted by Marshall2.0

Mixes as well as booze.
One thing it will do is give more tax money for their various gummint programs.

Mixes as well as booze.
One thing it will do is give more tax money for their various gummint programs. Originally Posted by Joey_Gleet

Dems want to tax anything that moves.


If its not moving, revive it and tax it when its moving which what they're trying to do.

Interesting topic. We should be allowed to discuss this one.

This thread will get shut down, though.

Should have known better, oeb.

It is a legitimate topic - a political issue which has been before voters.
If the MOD chooses so - so be it.

I am not advocating any use of "forbidden topic".

I agree, Debate should be allowed on this topic.

President Obama and his Supermajority could have done this as was pointed out many years ago.

He could of also made "prostitution legal" or at least encouraged it at the federal level.

He also could of legalized internet gambling in the US.

Obama didn't.

He could have at least taken off it the Schedule I drug list.

But he didn't.

People may think I'm conservative but President Trump needs to move in toward the more liberal side on these issues.

Thank you, GF - As to whether it is a liberal or conservative issue - perhaps it (the original post issue) is a human issue, with the majority of Americans favoring legalization - even in Texas.

President Obama and his Supermajority could have done this as was pointed out many years ago.

He could of also made "prostitution legal" or at least encouraged it at the federal level.

He also could of legalized internet gambling in the US.

Obama didn't.

He could have at least taken off it the Schedule I drug list.

But he didn't.

People may think I'm conservative but President Trump needs to move in toward the more liberal side on these issues. Originally Posted by gnadfly

Obama spent more time doing what this thread is about

Nationwide decrim of nookie rental would be a bit braver. Originally Posted by Joey_Gleet

That is state statutes not federal.

President Obama and his Supermajority could have done this as was pointed out many years ago.

He could of also made "prostitution legal" or at least encouraged it at the federal level.

He also could of legalized internet gambling in the US.

Obama didn't.

He could have at least taken off it the Schedule I drug list.

But he didn't.

People may think I'm conservative but President Trump needs to move in toward the more liberal side on these issues. Originally Posted by gnadfly

Prostitution isn't a federal offense...this is dealt with on a state level. The feds deal with sex trafficking.

Prostitution isn't a federal offense...this is dealt with on a state level. The feds deal with sex trafficking. Originally Posted by bb1961

that would be the Mann Act which deals with sex trafficking

You are correct...

https://www.history.com/this-day-in-...asses-mann-act